Devon

Neil Parish backs school funding

TIVERTON and Honiton MP, Neil Parish has welcomed the Government announcement that Devon’s schools will receive an extra £16.2million in 2015-16 to address an historic unfairness in the way education funding is allocated.

The money is part of a proposed £350million boost to the most under-funded local authorities and represents a huge step towards removing the unfairness in the school funding system.

Mr Parish, who has long campaigned for fairer funding for Devon’s schools, said: “The school funding system we inherited from Labour is unfair.

“It’s a postcode lottery that res-ults in pupils attracting very different levels of funding without good reason, and I welcome the Government announcement that Devon’s school funding is receiving a deserved boost.

“As part of our long-term economic plan we’re determined to deliver the best schools and skills for our young people so they can get the skills they need to get on in life.

“This announcement is great news for Devon as it represents a huge step towards removing the unfairness in the school funding system.

“This is a step in the right direction, but Devon’s the sixth lowest funded council in the country based on funding per pupil, and more must be done to correct this historic under-funding of its schools.”